049 - How to let go of broken or replaced items

Decluttering Untangled with Heather Tingle : How to declutter when you're overwhelmed, ADHD or Autistic

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Episode Summary: In this episode Heather delves into the thought process behind why we often hold onto broken or replaced items. She shares insights from working with clients and explores how emotional attachment, overwhelm, and "just in case" thinking can lead to clutter accumulation. From kettles that sort of work to socks with holes, Heather explains why it's okay to let go of items that no longer serve you and offers practical strategies for moving forward. Tune in to learn how to break the cycle of keeping unnecessary items and feel lighter in the process.

Key Takeaways:

• The Broken Kettle Dilemma: Heather discusses a client’s hesitation to throw away a kettle that doesn’t work well anymore, despite buying a replacement. She breaks down the emotional reasons for keeping it and why letting go can feel overwhelming.
• Facing Overwhelm: If an item still works "kind of" but isn't functioning fully, consider taking the first small step to fix it, like ordering a repair kit. If it doesn’t work after that, it's okay to move on.
• The Sunk Cost Fallacy: Holding onto expensive broken items won’t get your money back. Heather encourages listeners to listen to Episode 20 for more about this psychological phenomenon.
• Backup Items: Keeping a broken item “just in case” is a common but flawed mindset. Heather asks, if the new item broke, what would you actually do? Usually, the answer is just buying another new one.
• The Sock Dilemma: Heather shares another client’s experience with holding onto a pair of favorite but holey socks. She explores the emotional side of keeping such items, especially when they provide sensory comfort, and offers practical steps to evaluate whether it’s worth repairing or letting go.

Practical Tips:

• When you replace an item, try to let go of the old one as soon as you can.
• Take baby steps with overwhelming tasks—open the new item, unwrap it, and start the process.
• Use apps like Olio or platforms like Facebook Marketplace to give away broken items that someone else might be able to repair or use for parts.
• Reframe your thoughts about backup items by asking, “If I didn’t have this, what would I do?”
• Be honest with yourself about whether you’ll actually repair a damaged item. If you haven’t done it yet, it’s likely you won’t.

Call to Action: If this episode resonated with you, take a look around your home. Is there something broken or replaced that you’ve been holding onto? Maybe now’s the time to let it go. Pop into the Facebook Community and share your thoughts.

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